McLaren believes that its choice to cease development in early 2025 to concentrate on the completely new 2026 model, the MCL40, is a sound strategy. The team was concerned that continuing development could lead to starting the new season at a “slower” pace.
McLaren’s Future Focus for 2026
Last season, McLaren was on track for the Constructors’ Championship and a 1-2 finish in the Drivers’ standings. The team rolled out its last significant upgrade during the British Grand Prix, which was the 12th of 24 races in the season.
Although there were minor modifications like the Monza wing and floor, these updates were specifically tailored for certain tracks rather than being enhancements to the overall car.
This decision allowed Red Bull, particularly Max Verstappen, to close the gap as they continued updating the RB21, even introducing a new floor at the Mexican Grand Prix, the 20th round of the series.
This development led Verstappen to overcome a 104-point deficit to Piastri and finish the season with an 11-point lead over him, trailing only two points behind Norris, having won six of the last nine races.
Despite possible risks, McLaren’s engineering technical director, Neil Houldley, believes the choice to halt development was necessary to start 2026 at an enhanced level. Having secured consecutive Constructors’ Championships in 2024 and 2025, the team faces more aerodynamic testing restrictions than its competitors.
“Had we continued the 2025 development, entering 2026 would have been a slower process for us,” Houldley reflected, noting that the team was focusing on minor improvements. “While other teams were advancing, which benefited Red Bull, I still maintain that we made the right move for the future.”
Team principal Andrea Stella shares similar sentiments, stating that halting development was essential to safeguard the integrity of their 2026 project. “Continuing to develop the current car would have compromised the 2026 model significantly,” he noted.
Testing for the new car will commence at the end of January 2024, providing McLaren its first opportunity to assess the impact of their strategic decision. The F1 2026 season is set to kick off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
